Electrolytic reflector



lsE/JUQCH ROOM 1,525,554

Feb. l0, 1925,

s. w. v.JENKS ELECTROLYTIC REFLECTOR Filed Sept. l1, 1922 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

STUART W. JENKS, 0F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

ELECTROLYTIC REFLECTOR. l

Application filed September 11, 1922.

T o f/ZZ 207mm. it may concern:

we it known that I, STUART lV. .Tia-Nits, a citizen of the UnitedStates. residing at `llvashington. District of Columbia. have inventedcertain new and useful Improv ments in lillectrolvticl Iieflectors, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates t.': apparatus for the transmission ofpictures-by-radio. and has for its principal object means for changingrthe intensitaT value of the light from a light source of constantintensity. in order to produce lights and shades and half-tones on thephoto-graphic surface upon which it impinges in the apparatus. at thereceiving station.

In the digrammatic drawing herewith, A is a source of light of constantintensity. B a lens for gathering the diverging light. rays therefromand concentrating them on the film C. after having been reflected fromthe metal-faced mirror D. The mirror D is located in an electrolvticbath and is connected to a source of' oscillating current. illustratedas coming from the induction coil E. The elect1ol vtic solution iscontained in the glass jar F.

The operation of the device. is as follows: iVith the light of uniformvalue refiected from the surface of the niixror D. a uniform strength oflight is obtained on the picture surface C. But when current begins toflow in the oscillating circuit. a. deposit is 'formed on the face ofthe mirror in minute specks, which tend to reduce the area of lightreflecting surface. and. therefore. the amount of light falling on thefilm C. lVhen the current reverses. the mirror becomes the opposite poleof the oscillating circuit. `and these particles are removed and thenormal strength of the light again falls on the film C. When a lessstrength of current passes. obviously there is a less deposit, and,therei fore. a less interruption to the reflection of the light from themirror.

Serial No. 587,408.

It will be found, therefore, that the amount of light reflected from themirror is governed b v the strength of the electrolytic deposit, and asthe eletrolytic deposit results from the fluctuating current values inthe transformer E. the amount of light which falls on thelight-sensitive film C fluctuates in accord with the impressed currentvalues. and as the film C is in motion. the result of the developablevalue of the exposure on the film (i Varies accordingly.

This electrolytic deposit may be alternately added to and taken from atransparent anode-cathode, but as this is made the subject of a separateapplication. a de scription thereof is not herein included.

lVhat I claim isl. In devices of' the character described. a source oflight of fixed intensity. a light sensitive surface so located Aas toreceive light from said source, and means lying between wherebyv anelectrolytic deposit thereon reduces the amount of light passing fromsaid source to said film.

2. In devices of the character described. a source of light of fixedintensity. a light sensitive surface so located as to receive light fromsaid source. and means lying between whereby an electrolyt-ic depositalternately added to and subtracted therefrom varies the value of lightpassing from said source to said film.

3. In devices of the character described. a. source of' light of fixedintensity, a light receiving surface so located as to receive light fromsaid source. and means lying between Wherebv an electrolytical depositis alternatelvT added to and subtracted therefrom to vary the amount oflight passing from said source to said film.

In testimonjY whereof I have affixed my signature.

STUART iv. JENKS.

